Made a Cheep Power Supply using Computer SMPS !

Nice.  This is encouraging me to open up that Windows 95 computer in my closet, to re-purpose/steal/cannibalize the power supply, to run my lineup of rPi and BBBlack. All those USB wall power supplies create a mess.

When you want to power multiple RPis, just by a 4-port (or so) USB power supply / USB charger. Much better than to use an 20-year old computer PSU which is probably 10 years of its planned life time... I bought an Anker 5-port USB charger, and it works like a charm.

When you want to power multiple RPis, just by a 4-port (or so) USB power supply / USB charger. Much better than to use an 20-year old computer PSU which is probably 10 years of its planned life time... I bought an Anker 5-port USB charger, and it works like a charm.

Well, yes, that's one way but I consider that too easy.  Why do that when I can mess around with solder and wires and connectors.  And at the moment a cheap 12v to 5v DC-DC converter. Problem solving and troubleshooting is fun, releasing the smoke (in a safe location) is educational.  Reading the suggestions above and below, I will use my multimeter before I connect any valuable SBC.

releasing the smoke (in a safe location) is educational

Very true - you can actually identify some faults by smell if you've experienced them before. However if you can avoid the smell and the small white cloud of gas from a burnt out tantalum capacitor....that is probably a good thing !

[On the subject of fault finding, the back of a finger, just in front of the middle knuckle, also seems more sensitive to heat.]

Rod

mp2100  wrote:

 

Well, yes, that's one way but I consider that too easy.  Why do that when I can mess around with solder and wires and connectors.  And at the moment a cheap 12v to 5v DC-DC converter. Problem solving and troubleshooting is fun, releasing the smoke (in a safe location) is educational.  Reading the suggestions above and below, I will use my multimeter before I connect any valuable SBC.

This one has high voltages though. The type of educational life lesson you may get while enjoying the smoke of a switching power supply connected to mains may be different than the one you get while inhaling the vape of a 555 timer...